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A constitutional referendum will be held on July 1st, Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar says.
A constitutional referendum will be held on July 1st, Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar says.
Morocco will hold parliamentary elections on October 7th, three months after the referendum on the new constitution, Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar announced last Thursday (May 26th) during his visit to the United States.
The announcement followed rumours that the elections, originally scheduled for September 2012, might take place in October 2011, at the end of the year or at the beginning of 2012.
Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi and the Istiqlal Party were among the first ones to call for early parliamentary elections.
Morocco should not wait till next year and must hold the vote immediately after the July 1st referendum, the prime minister argued.
"We must respond to the changes that Morocco is undergoing and the demands of all segments of Moroccan society in order to avoid political one-upmanship," El Fassi said at his party's national council on April 23rd.
MP Mohamed Moubdiaa said that "it's feasible" to hold elections in October. "The goal is to get through this turbulent period so that we can start all over again," he said. "We just need to knuckle down to the task."
The important thing is to hold transparent, high-quality elections to put an end to the old political practices and create credible institutions, according to Front of Democratic Forces (FFD) Secretary-General Thamy El Khyari. He added that people's expectations must be met and the special circumstances of certain remote areas must be taken into consideration.
Meanwhile, Justice and Development Party (PJD) Secretary-General Lahcen Daoudi warned against "rushing" the vote, arguing that the elections cannot take place as early as October and time is needed to raise public awareness of the provisions of the new constitution.
"We want to get rid of this government, but not in this manner," he said. "Early legislatives could be held in May 2012."
By Siham Ali for Magharebia in Rabat
Morocco will hold parliamentary elections on October 7th, three months after the referendum on the new constitution, Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar announced last Thursday (May 26th) during his visit to the United States.
The announcement followed rumours that the elections, originally scheduled for September 2012, might take place in October 2011, at the end of the year or at the beginning of 2012.
Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi and the Istiqlal Party were among the first ones to call for early parliamentary elections.
Morocco should not wait till next year and must hold the vote immediately after the July 1st referendum, the prime minister argued.
"We must respond to the changes that Morocco is undergoing and the demands of all segments of Moroccan society in order to avoid political one-upmanship," El Fassi said at his party's national council on April 23rd.
MP Mohamed Moubdiaa said that "it's feasible" to hold elections in October. "The goal is to get through this turbulent period so that we can start all over again," he said. "We just need to knuckle down to the task."
The important thing is to hold transparent, high-quality elections to put an end to the old political practices and create credible institutions, according to Front of Democratic Forces (FFD) Secretary-General Thamy El Khyari. He added that people's expectations must be met and the special circumstances of certain remote areas must be taken into consideration.
Meanwhile, Justice and Development Party (PJD) Secretary-General Lahcen Daoudi warned against "rushing" the vote, arguing that the elections cannot take place as early as October and time is needed to raise public awareness of the provisions of the new constitution.
"We want to get rid of this government, but not in this manner," he said. "Early legislatives could be held in May 2012."
By Siham Ali for Magharebia in Rabat
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